Eruo 2016: It’s bye Italy, hello Chelsea for Conte

Conte speaks to the players before the penalty shoot-out.
Image Credit: AFP

Bordeaux: Italy coach Antonio Conte insisted his battling players left their mark on Euro 2016 but after a quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Germany he is already looking towards his “new adventure” with Chelsea.

“I think the lads really left their mark on this tournament,” an emotional Conte said on Saturday after seeing his side suffer their first loss to the World Cup holders in nine outings at major finals.

“We battled all the way, but football can bring you joy and pain.”

Instead of spending the next seven days battling to reach the July 10 final, Conte will now, reluctantly, have a seven-day holiday before making London, and Stamford Bridge, his home for the foreseeable future.

The 46-year-old former Juventus coach caused some confusion when he appeared to suggest he had reconsidered whether to continue with Italy instead of taking up his post with Chelsea.

He was then at pains to insist that was not the case: “The decision to leave the national team after two years in charge was made before the tournament.

“I won’t deny that there did come a time when I would have liked to continue... but because of certain developments I wasn’t able to go back on that.”

Conte later clarified, adding: “In November I thought I was continuing with the national side. Then I told the president of the Italian football federation of the great opportunity to join Chelsea football club.

“I wanted to return to the cut and thrust of club football. Now, I have the opportunity to start this exciting adventure.”

If fans thought Conte might one day return to coach the Azzurri, they were quickly disappointed.

“I think it’s impossible,” he said. “My future lies in working at club level. My future’s with Chelsea.

“Now I’ll take seven days off to charge my batteries and shift a bit of this disappointment before taking over at Chelsea.

“I know it will be a difficult challenge but it’s one I will cherish.”

Chelsea finished the last Premier League season in 10th place so Blues fans should welcome their new coach with open arms.

Through a combination of grit, personality, and a lot of dramatic gesticulating on the touchlines — all of which rubbed off on Italy’s squad over his two years in charge — Conte transformed a team that suffered their second successive first-round exit from the World Cup in Brazil into bona fide title contenders at Euro 2016.

Italy’s dream of securing a place in the last four matchup with France or Iceland, who face off on Sunday, was kept on track by Leonardo Bonucci’s late penalty that levelled a 65th minute opener by Mesut Ozil.

Although Germany had the lion’s share of opportunities, Italy took the game to penalties, where the Azzurri spurned a great chance to cause another upset a week after sending holders Spain home with a 2-0 last-16 victory.

It took several misses in the 18-kick epic before Germany clinched a 6-5 shoot-out victory when Manuel Neuer saved a tame shot from Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian.

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